The Dawn of Grace, Sixpence None the Richer (Nettwerk)

This Christian pop-rock band had broken up a few years ago but reformed in the past year to make an EP and now this, their first full Christmas album for 2008. The band previously dabbled in the holiday with versions of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" on Happy Christmas 2, "Christmas Time is Here" for a Peanuts compilation, "Silent Night" for a compilation called City on a Hill and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" for Maybe This Christmas Too. In addition, singer Leigh Nash did a solo Christmas EP, Wishing For This, in 2006. As far as I can tell, this album was recorded fresh in 2008 with no repeats from the past, so that means they've done two versions of "Silent Night," the one here featuring an assist from Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine. If you recall the band from its hits like "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes," there will be no surprises. The whole album has a contemporary alt-folk-pop sheen to it, mostly slow to midtempo, with two original songs, "Christmas For Two" and "The Last Christmas" sitting nicely alongside eight covers, six familiar ones like "O Come O Come," the Emanuel carol in a nicely martial beat; a folky "Carol of the Bells"; a rather heavy take on "Christmas Island"; and a straight cover of Joni Mitchell's "River." Two unusual covers are "Some Children See Him" and the Spanish carol "Riu Riu Chiu."